Name/Title
Adjustable "Scotland Yard" pattern Hiatt Darby handcuffs.Entry/Object ID
80Description
Darby style adjustable nickel plated handcuffs, stamped "Hiatt Best Warranted Wrought Patent 61". No keyUse
To restrain prisoners. This type was in use across Sussex from at least the mid 19th century until the 1960s.Context
These type of handcuffs are known as "Darbies" or "D" cuffs. "Darbies" is a 17th century word used to refer to all types of hand/wrist restraints and "D" refers to the shape of this style. This type, which were made by various makers, do not have a lock in the strictest sense as they have a simple bolt which is released by screwing in the "key". This simple robust design probably explains why these type of handcuffs were in use for over 100 years.
Standard Darby handcuffs are of a fixed size which meant that small and larger sized versions were needed to fit persons with smaller or larger wrists. This is why adjustable Darby handcuffs like these, were introduced and the company of Hiatt, who made this pair called this model the "Scotland Yard" pattern. They are thought to have began to produce them in the late 19th century or early 20th century, but certainly by 1905 (Nichols 2002). This particular pair were probably made before 1945, as after World War Two, Hiatt introduced a much less cumbersome swivel design. They are also stamped "Patent" usually marked on new designs during the early years of production (though Hiatt did not actually patent the design ( Nichols 2002) and these probably date from 1905 to 1920. The provenance suggests they were used by one of the Sussex police forces.
Hiatt were a Birmingham based company that made restraints from at least 1780, and whilst best known for handcuffs, they manufactured other police equipment throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. The company ceased UK production in 2008 following increased scrutiny over some of its products and their use abroad.